February 26, 2009

Quinn: let's have special election if Burris won't resign within two weeks

Gov. Pat Quinn said today that if embattled U.S. Sen. Roland Burris doesn’t step down within the next two weeks, he wants lawmakers to send him a bill to set up a special election that could effectively remove Burris from office.

Quinn, appearing on “The Steve Cochran Show” on WGN-AM (720), said he spoke to the top two Democrats in the General Assembly today about the possibility of moving ahead with the legislation, which would take advantage of a clause contained in the U.S. Constitution’s 17th Amendment.

Quinn’s actions follow a legal opinion issued last night by Atty. Gen. Lisa Madigan who said she believed the state could enact a special-election law that would effectively force Burris from office. Under the Constitution, a governor’s appointments to fill Senate vacancies should be considered temporary until an election is held, she said.

But under current state law, appointments to Senate vacancies last until the next federal election, which is scheduled for next year. Burris was appointed by former-Gov. Rod Blagojevich to fill the vacancy left by President Barack Obama. The appointment came three weeks after Blagojevich’s Dec. 9 arrest on federal criminal charges of allegedly trying to sell the Senate seat for personal or political gain.

Last week, Quinn called for Burris to resign, joining other leading Democrats who say he can no longer effectively represent the state after he revealed more extensive contacts with Blagojevich allies than he had originally testified to before the Illinois House panel weighing Blagojevich’s impeachment.

Quinn had proposed legislation that would allow him to name a temporary caretaker to the Senate vacancy, subject to a Burris resignation, followed by a quick special election. But Burris has made clear he does not intend to resign.

“I think the optimal course is if the senator, upon reflection, talking to his family and friends, especially the people of Illinois, comes to realize that being U.S. senator at this time is not an avenue of service for Roland Burris,” Quinn said.

“If he voluntarily resigns, it really accelerates everything and makes it much better,” the governor said. “Now, after a short reasonable period of time, if he doesn’t do that, then I think we should pursue ahead with a (special-election) statute. I’ve urged the two legislative leaders today in Springfield, when I was there. to go ahead and do that. Let’s get it on the books.”

Asked what a reasonable time was for Burris to contemplate before steeping down, Quinn responded, “I think two weeks is enough.”

Republican lawmakers in Springfield seized upon Madigan’s opinion and said a special election should be held with a primary on April 7 and urged the Democratic-controlled General Assembly to move quickly with legislation to authorize the vote.

But Illinois Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) said he was awaiting some guidance by the Illinois House, where Speaker Michael Madigan has said his caucus is divided on the issue. Madigan is the father of the attorney general and a veteran Southwest Side lawmaker who also heads the Illinois Democratic Party.

Cullerton has supported holding a special election since Blagojevich was arrested, but said he remained concern about cost estimates of $40 million to $50 million to hold a special election. The House speaker also has cited cost concerns as a major impediment.

But Sen. Matt Murphy (R-Palatine), who is sponsoring special-election legislation, said the balloting could cost half that amount or less and said the state could subsidize the costs to local election authorities by tapping $15 million set aside in the current budget for pork-barrel projects.

Quinn also said he didn’t believe the $50 million price tag being touted by some election officials and opposing lawmakers and said he believed a special election was needed “after all of the controversy and scandal that we’ve had in our state” as a way to “clear the air.”

“Upon review, I don’t think the cost of the election would be as great as some people are saying,” Quinn said. “I do think we should have a special election to replace Barack Obama...and I think that is the best way to help the most people in Illinois and our country get over something that has really harmed us.”

Earlier today, Quinn said he asked his chief of staff and top lawyer to look into revelations that Burris’ son was hired by a state agency five months ago.

The Illinois Housing Development Authority said in a statement today that the agency hired Roland Burris II last September after he submitted a resume in response to a job posting on CareerBuilder.com (the jobs web site is partly owned by Tribune Co).

The younger Burris was then twice interviewed by agency officials and then offered a $75,000-a-year job as senior counsel, according to the statement. Burris II is one of four senior counsels and his primary focus is closing "multifamily transactions," the agency said.

"Mr. Burris is a graduate of Howard University and the Northwestern University School of Law. He has a wealth of experience in law and finance and comes to the Authority with over twenty years of real estate and municipal bond experience," agency spokeswoman Man Yee Lee said in a statement.

Burris II got the job despite a $34,163 tax lien the IRS filed last summer against their South Side home.

Quinn said he didn’t want to prejudge the matter of the younger Burris but said it “deserves some serious review” and it was likely a recommendation would be offered to the housing agency's executive director.

In Chicago, a group of African-American aldermen came to Burris’ defense, warning politicians seeking his ouster that they could lose support from the black community.

“I would just suggest to those people who seek to run in the wards of the City of Chicago where there are people of color living that they should tone it down, because some of us are taking notes,” said Ald. Freddrenna Lyle (6th), city chairman of the Cook County Democratic Organization. “Those people will run at their peril.”

Ald. Carrie Austin (34th), chairman of the City Council Black Caucus, said all caucus members back Burris and the call for others to back off.

“We want this cutting and bleeding to stop,” Austin said. “He is in our federal government legally. He has been sworn in as our United States senator.”

She said the accusations against Burris are “lies, innuendos and speculations to just muck up (Burris’) 30-plus year record. We say it’s time for this to stop, and if it does not, we shall remember this at the next election.”

For his part, Burris offered no comments in Washington today although his office noted in a news release that as “the nation’s only African American senator” the junior senator from Illinois “applauded the swift passage” of a resolution to authorize a plaque to commemorate the role of slave laborers in constructing the U.S. Capitol building. Burris was a co-sponsor of the resolution.

Comments

Burris' supporters are not being "racist" for wanting Burris to stay in office. It could be that they feel Illinois constituents just want to get out of the news and the quickest way to do that is to eliminate the only black senator in Congress. Black people believe in integrity just like everyone else. But we're like family... we want to get the facts straight before we start condemning and blacklisting people we once had faith in. Unfortunately, it seems Burris has already been condemned and blacklisted by many people who just want the drama to end.

Burris needs to be gone. Illinois voters deserve honest politicians and not just the bottom-feeding crooks the Democrats have been foisting off on us.

If the Blacks in Chicago really want to get elected, then they need to find some honest Black politicians (and not the Stroger Klan, the Jackson Klan, the Jones Klan, and the other bottom-feeders such as Troutman).

To fireman: I am basically a Democrat, but first and most importantly a voter who wants to feel I can trust my Senator to do the best for the entire State of Illinois. I do not support Mr. Burris now and I would not support him if he ran in 2010. If his memory is this short than he is not capable to handle this office.

It is really sad that some have chosen to play the race card with Mr. Burris. His race doesn't make a difference in this situation and he "conveniently omitted" important facts about his contacts. They need to remember our ex-governor was not black and he was impeached because he did not fulfill his duties as governor. I really don't care that he is the only black Senator person, he is not going to be effective and representative for our our state with this cloud hanging over him. I am from downstate and he represents all of the State of Illinois as well as Chicago. He needs to listen to his peers and know that the right thing to do is resign. This way he will keep his dignity and restore his reputation.

Am so tired of Blacks saying Burris is being treated unfairly because of his race. Have they forgotten that we just impeached a white governor over this issue? And yes, there are many other elected officials of all colors that have behaved as badly or worse and have not been subject to this kind of pressure to resign but I, for one, am hoping a new day is dawning and they will all be gone soon.

Yes. Lets get on with it. Burris is a fraud and pretender who represents only himself and the other egomaniac who appointed him. Quinn is absolutely correct in this course of action. Madigan and Cullerton better get on board quickly.

To suggest imposing the expense of a special election even though Senator Burris has been installed by the Senate is silly. This runs up against provisions preventing expost facto provisions in laws to pass legal muster.

To persist in whining about things said, not said, implied and other such vagaries is pointless. I predict that if some sort of legal challenge to the Senator's having taken office is launched, even merely adequate legal representation could stretch proceedings out for the remainder of the term to be served.

Roland Burris will never resign, his personality, as evidenced by his decades-long presentation in public, precludes him even entertaining the notion of doing so. Please stop wasting the time of the public with righteous indignation over what Burris said, and what he didn't say. Were we to apply the missive that he who is without sin, cast the first stone, few elected officials in Illinois, or anywhere else for that matter, would escape without a bruise or two.

As an African American I am embarassed by Burris and these crazzzzzy alderman calling themselves speaking for me. Pls stop the madness and request this man POOF...be gone!!
Right is right & wrong is wrong......Burris is dead wrong!!! What the City of Chgo Black Caucus really should ask themselves is what form of monetary help has Burris given any of them!! I am sure the answer would be ZERO dollars. Which in this case is truly is priceless.

Let's have a court battle!!!! Democrats, one are the ones who did not want a special election since you might have lost. Burris was appointed and the only legal way to get him out is impeachment. Let's stop this NOW. The law is the law. I would bet that the courts would find in favor of Burris hands down...but wait our State Supreme court is composed of more Democrats. This would go to the US Supreme Court and Burris would win after too much money spent that we don't have.

If Quinn and the Madigans insist on a special election to oust Burris, I suggest we take advantage of that to also properly elect a governor. Heck, I'd probably vote republican for both now that the dems are shown to be so corrupt beginning locally with aldermen up through state and to the White House.

It amazes me that here, in the 21st century, we still have blatant racism on center stage: Racist aldermen threatening that if some elected official supports the ouster of non-Senator Burris (he is not our senator as he was not truthful in his testamony when he sought to obtain the office), that people are taking notes, and "we will remember you next time you're up for re-election..." Oh, brother!

Such pure, unmasked racism, supporting Roland Burris purely because of the color of his skin. This is indeed a sad chapter in the history of Illinois, and this discrimination of favoring one race over another regarding whether the man in the Senate representing the people of Illinois needs to be honorable or not--this double standard needs to end NOW!

If we are ever to be a unified State in these United States, our standards must be color-blind. Burris has been asked by many people to do the honorable thing and step down, for the sake of the state he claims to represent. He has obviously chosen to ignore the voice of the people, and stubbornly is hoping time will dispell those who challenge his claim to Obama's senate seat.

Why does this generation of elected officials have such disdain for honor and accountability. If they were being paid the combined salary of what my wife and I are paid from our employment, maybe politicians wouldn't be as ego-centric and money-hungry. Maybe those who might persue the profession of being a public servant would then be able to relate to those of us who live paycheck-to-paycheck. They would be better prepared to represent the people of our state.

Let's move forward, and hold our elected officials accountable to the common people REGARDLESS of the color of their skin and their racial ancestry. Divided, we will fall. Isn't it time?

Didn't Martin Luther King say people should be judged "not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character?" Too bad King's people don't follow his teachings. Burris lied multiple times to gain that seat. What the hell difference does it make what color he is? A liar is a liar.

I support our state and the way things are going right now, one has to wonder who will be the next one that we should "get rid of" by whatever means we can, at the moment, come up with!

We are setting some dangerous precedents!

I would like those whom I elect to meet the responsibilities of their office and not look for other duties not specifically in those designated for them by the Illinois Constitution.

Quite frankly, I believe that those who are willing to devote so much of OUR TIME and OUR MONEY to this distraction (from the business of our state) and outrageous self serving political ambition are the ones making us a laughing stock!

If these people don't know that they actually have responsibilities other than playground tactics of keeping someone (Senator Burris, who has a legal right to be included) out of the group, THEY should resign!

Yes Burris should resign, but he won't. Therefore he should be ousted immediately. He's pretending to be a Senator, but will only talk to the press through his attorneys?!! With Senators like him, this must be Illinois.

I'm confused by fireman's comments, "Moving into the Govs mansion you have cost us money! It wasn;t a move for the people!" So you'd rather have Blago fly in from Chicago and cost a ton of money? Do you think Obama moving into the White House was free? Or how about Obama's $150M inauguration? Wear the dounce hat, my friend.

I say it's time to call their bluff. Schedule the statewide special election and let's find out once and for all just how much power resides in the "Black vote". Perhaps afterward, politicians won't feel the need to pander to what, in the end, will prove to be an empty constituency.

Well, hold a special election. Vote for who you want, black, white or pink. If Burris runs and wins, then he is there for the people. As of right now, he was placed by Rod Blago...he is appointed by lies, and a tainted system. Therefore, he is not there for the poeple. QUIT!! Let the poeple of IL vote and end this fiasco at once.

All 50 aldermen on the Chicago City Council had to file paperwork earlier this year detailing their outside income and gifts. The Tribune took that ethics paperwork and posted the information here for you to see. You can search by ward number or alderman's last name.

The Cook County Assessor's office has put together lists of projected median property tax bills for all suburban towns and city neighborhoods. We've posted them for you to get a look at who's paying more and who's paying less.

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Clout has a special meaning in Chicago, where it can be a noun, a verb or an adjective. This exercise of political influence in a uniquely Chicago style was chronicled in the Tribune cartoon "Clout Street" in the early 1980s. Clout Street, the blog, offers an inside look at the politics practiced from Chicago's City Hall to the Statehouse in Springfield, through the eyes of the Tribune's political and government reporters.